Baltimore Ravens: Derek Cox To Start At Cornerback?

By Rocky Friedman | Aug 27, 2014

After the Baltimore Ravens signed sixth-year cornerback Derek Cox earlier today, fans were wondering what this signing really means. I will do the best I can to try to explain what voids Cox will fill.

With the Ravens’ top three corners – Lardarius Webb, Jimmy Smith, and Asa Jackson – sidelined with injuries, Cox will come in to try to fill in for them if they are to miss any playing time.

The veteran was recently cut by the Minnesota Vikings earlier this week and saw previous stints with the San Diego Chargers in 2013 and the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2009-2012.

In 2009, Cox’s rookie season, he put up a career-high 72 tackles and four interceptions while participating in all 16 regular season games for the Jaguars. The next season, he recorded 49 tackles and four interceptions but missed three games. He missed ten games the following season due to a knee injury. In 2012, he played in 12 games, accumulating four interceptions once again. And finally, last season, he played in all 16 games but only recorded 38 tackles and one pick.

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If it weren’t for a knee injury that he suffered at the end of the 2010 season, Cox’s career numbers would not look all that bad. In fact, even with the injuries, they still look pretty good. He’s only been in the league for five seasons and has only really participated in four of them as he missed ten games in 2011. He picked off four passes in three of his four full years in the league, which is not bad at all. If he shows the same production with the Ravens, they would be thrilled.

However, the big question that comes to mind is what will his role be on the team?

We already know that the Ravens’ three starting cornerbacks are all out for the rest of the preseason due to injuries. Star corner Lardarius Webb hasn’t even seen the playing field once, but we don’t know the severity of any of their particular injuries.

Webb suffered a back injury in the beginning of training camp that was initially supposed to be a day-to-day type of thing. However, it turned into missing the first two weeks of the preseason and then missing all four exhibition games.

Jimmy Smith went down in Week 2 of the preseason with a bruised chest. He was seen coughing up blood in the locker room following the Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Asa Jackson sprained his ankle in practice, and no one really knows what his status is. He was currently in the lead for the number three cornerback spot, but the injury hurt his status in the race. Head coach John Harbaugh has said that he is optimistic about all three players returning for opening day, but who knows?

So here’s how I think it will play out. If Webb or Smith were to miss a couple of weeks in the regular season, then Cox would likely fill in for them to start. However, if the only one missing time is Asa Jackson, then I don’t see any scenario where Cox starts over either of those guys.

So the answer to the question depends. It depends on who gets injured and who misses time. Hopefully, everyone will be ready to go come opening day and we won’t have to worry about any of this.

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